Proof, if we needed it, that Jane Austen Mania has gotten completely out of hand
Heather L. noticed this little item on eBay…
Several things:
1. Austin?
2. $900,000? Is this person taking strong medication?
3. It’s not a first edition; it’s a first edition thus, which is a different thing entirely. The Thomsons are getting a little spendy these days, but this is just laughable, even for a real first edition! Even with the other two books included!
4. Pray note the seller’s feedback score: a big fat hairy 0.
Everyone point and laugh. Go ahead, it’s okay.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:06 am
Oh my. Doesn’t this person realize that the artwork on that gaudy red and gold leather cover would place this book almost a 100 years after the actual first edition (of which book?) Thanks for the laugh.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Oh dear. You’d think that if someone was trying to pass these off as first editions, or even (bless them!) thought they really WERE first editions, that they’d do at least some research- you know, just the basics, like the date and correct spelling of the author’s name!!
It does make me chuckle though.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:55 am
900 000??? Nine hundred thousand dollars??? Are you kidding me? I think there is a type and the seller must have meant 900 dollars. Well, good luck for your chosen way.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Even $900 is too much. About $200 is a good starting point for those three books, and that’s only because they seem to be in very good condition. I personally would not pay more than $300 for this set, again based on condition, but they could probably get some sucker to pay as much as $500. Beyond that is disgraceful; the seller is greedy and the buyer is a moron who should have her Jane toys taken away.
Also, notice they want $20 for shipping. I guess that’s for insurance. *falls over laughing*
It should be further pointed out that a real first edition of P & NA (in four volumes, as published) would not fetch $900,000. I’m not sure it would hit six figures. I’ve seen P&P first editions listed for a quarter million, but no more than that. I seem to recall an auction a while back for a P&P first edition that didn’t hit six figures.
Remind me sometime, when I’m well braced with many cups of Dorothy’s good strong tea, to tell you of the set of Brock watercolors I saw for sale that had been rebound. REBOUND! The seller seemed to think that increased their value (he was asking over $1,000 for the set). Let’s not mention the unspeakable things done to the endpapers in the name of the rebinding. I’m not that strong.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
In London last November I bought a 1913 leather-bound edition of Mansfield Park for £25. I’m sorry but $900,000 for any book that doesn’t come with a 5 bedroom 4 bath Georgian home on 15 acres is too much…
September 4th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
*pointing*…
Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
September 5th, 2007 at 12:22 am
That’s too funny! I guess we’re just not “serious bidders”. People who spell Austen wrong really get on my nerves.
For that price the book should arrive via Jane Austen! (I guess the book might come via ‘Jane Austin’ & the winner bidder probably wouldn’t notice the difference!)
September 5th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Alas for those wishing to make further mock of misspellings; the seller has seen the light and corrected the name. You may still titter quietly at the other three points.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:09 am
The seller was politely notified of the misspelling, but declined to respond to inquiry of a possible typo in the price listed.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Oh, Deb, was that you? I was hoping the seller had followed breadcrumbs back here and realized the error of his or her pricing ways.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:41 am
It was, and apparently they didn’t. But note that they also changed the listing title to “Jane Austen First Edition by Publisher” (thinking that clarifies justification for price???)
September 5th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Thanks for the laugh. Better than my morning cup of coffee.
September 5th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I am laughing the hardest!!!
I have the exact book - and *ms* it isn’t gaudy at all, quite tasteful in fact - but the printing year is 1898.
I doubt if the price would fall a considerable amount for being printed a year later.
I think the first edition is probably meant by these printers.
It says;
London MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED
New York, The Macmillan company
All Rights Reserved
The introduction is indeed by Austin Dobson.
The strange thing is that on the last page at the bottom there it is written;
printed by R&R Clark, Limited, Edinburgh
I think I might have paid between 20 to 30 British pounds.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Folks, I made a typo in the word typo. Not everyone can do that
“I’m sorry but $900,000 for any book that doesn’t come with a 5 bedroom 4 bath Georgian home on 15 acres is too much…” That is so right.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:32 am
I love that shipping insurance isn’t offered. Dude, for $900,000 throw in the insurance. Or why don’t you get really wild, and just eat the shipping and insurance costs altogether!
September 6th, 2007 at 6:05 am
I remember Southeby’s listed a first edition of Emma (a real one, by J. M. Muarry) and it was priced between ten and thirty thousand dollars. I put it in my shopping basket online just so I could say I “held” it and hastily backed away when they requested my credit card details!
September 6th, 2007 at 9:35 am
“Or why don’t you get really wild, and just eat the shipping and insurance costs altogether!”
Have a heart, people! If it sells for $900K, they will have to pay $13,524.30 in Ebay fees.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Deb, you’re such a freakin’ humanitarian.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I just hope he didn’t spend 20,000 on it, thinking he got a great deal, and is now trying to make a profit!